Production is "Go" for Datsun's New Family Car at Chennai Plant in India

Oragadam plant is the first factory globally to start production of the new generation of Datsun models

Cars will be produced to world-class standards in Renault-Nissan Alliance plant

CHENNAI, India – Today, the first Datsun GO rolled off the production line at the Renault Nissan Alliance plant (RNAIPL) in Oragadam, near Chennai, India. The new model heralds the introduction of the new Datsun brand to the Indian market, with sales starting in March.

The production launch of the new Datsun GO – on the factory's "Line 2" – was marked by a ceremony attended by many local dignitaries, including Thiru. P. Thangamani, Honorable Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu and Masanori Nakano, Honorable Consul General of Japan.

Speaking at the event, Toshiyuki Shiga, Vice-Chairman, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. said, "This is a landmark day for all of us at Nissan Motor Corporation. It represents the culmination of several years of extremely hard work to return the Datsun brand to the market."

The Datsun GO – which premiered last July in Delhi, India – is a modern five-door, five-seat hatchback conceived to offer accessible transport to aspirational, rising Indian families. The car was designed to offer a modern driving experience combined with spaciousness, quality and fuel efficiency for a new breed of customers who are enjoying the opportunities available to them.

The philosophy driving Datsun's success is that its products will combine Nissan's global know-how with local knowledge across development and production to meet the specific demands of customers in the market. Thanks to this approach, the Datsun GO will be positioned at a uniquely accessible price point, giving customers an unprecedented opportunity to own a modern family car.

By building the Datsun GO at the plant in Oragadam, Datsun benefits from the combined industry-leading expertise of the Renault Nissan Alliance, using the latest manufacturing, engineering and development processes, as well as a local supplier base, to deliver a bespoke and class leading car to Indian customers.

The Oragadam plant is the first factory anywhere in the world to start production of the new generation of Datsun models. Oragadam will be followed by local production of Datsun models in other markets such as Indonesia and Russia later this year, bringing the brand to thousands of customers in high growth markets.'

Over 100 local companies supply components and parts for the Datsun GO, demonstrating the positive impact that the introduction of the Datsun brand is having on the local economy around Chennai.

"From day one, we knew that the key to the success of the Datsun brand was that the cars must be developed, engineered and manufactured locally. By working this way, we have a unique insight into customer needs which enables us to build a car that meets and even exceeds those expectations," said Vincent Cobee, Global Head of Datsun.

He added: "The Oragadam plant and its associated technical facilities are the equal of any other factory within the global Renault Nissan Alliance in terms of quality, efficiency and flexibility. As a result, customers will enjoy the Datsun GO as it raises the bar in every respect within its segment".

The Renault Nissan Alliance plant was inaugurated in 2010, just 21 months after the groundbreaking ceremony in 2008, a record for this scale of factory

Nissan Motor Corporation's investment in Datsun is just one part of its ongoing commitment to expanding its presence across its commercial, research & development and manufacturing functions in India.

About Datsun Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced the return of the Datsun brand, Nissan's third global brand, alongside Nissan and Infiniti, in March 2012. Datsun will provide a sustainable motoring experience to optimistic up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese car-making expertise and is an important part of Nissan's DNA. Datsun vehicles will start sales in India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa from 2014.

Datsun History Datsun originated in Japan as DAT-GO (the DAT-car) almost a century ago in 1914. The word DAT means 'lightning-fast' in Japanese but is also a reference to the first letters of family names of the three financiers who supported the business at the time: Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. Using the same logic, it was promoted as Durable, Attractive and Trustworthy, or DAT for short.

In 1933, Nissan's founding father Yoshisuke Aikawa took over the business with a vision of "mobility for all." The introduction of a lightweight, economical yet resilient car to meet the aspirations of young Japanese people in the early 1930s was named the "son of DAT" – Datson - which later changed to Datsun. Local engineering and mass-production made the founder's dream a reality.

About Nissan and Datsun in India Nissan Motor India Private Ltd. (NMIPL) is a 100% subsidiary of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Japan. The company was incorporated in 2005 and offers innovative and exciting products across hatchback, MUV, SUV and sedan segments in India. Nissan together with its global alliance partner Renault set up a manufacturing plant and a Research & Development Centre near Chennai. Nissan in India has a portfolio of two brands, NISSAN and DATSUN. Nissan has partnered Hover Automotive India Pvt. Ltd for the distribution, sales and service of vehicles under NISSAN brand. While Nissan Motor in India will be responsible for distribution, sales and service of vehicle under the DATSUN brand. NMIPL registered sales of 36,975 units in FY 2012. For more information, visit: http://www.nissan.in, http://www.datsun.co.in.